Troy University Athletics
Women’s Basketball Voted Second in Sun Belt Preseason Poll, Hubbard Earns Second Team Honors
10/19/2026 11:00:00 AM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – Troy women's basketball maintains its reputation after three straight postseason appearances, earning 166 votes for second in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, while newcomer Aniya Hubbard is also named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team.
"Sun Belt women's basketball has risen to be one of the nation's top women's basketball conferences, so it is an honor to be chosen second in the preseason poll," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "However, we won't be satisfied until we earn the No. 1 spot."
The Trojans return three players in Saniya Jackson, Detavia Salter and Shakirah Edwards from the 2025-26 roster. That team finished second in the regular-season standings and fell to James Madison in the SBC title game. Troy posted 25 wins to tie for the most in program history en route to its first-ever WBIT bid. As a unit, the Trojans also led the nation in rebounds for the ninth straight season, tying UConn as the only two teams in NCAA history to lead a statistical category for that stretch.
To complete the 13-woman roster, Troy revamped its roster with five freshmen: Tiauna King, Maliyah Meeks, Kimora Hughes, Jamonica Chambers, and Hannah Smith. Rigby also signed five transfers in Hubbard, Aniya Finger, Tayla Barros, Riana Callihan and Taliah Martin.
Hubbard came to Troy after a two-year stint at Florida Atlantic, where she earned the 2022-23 C-USA Freshman of the Year, All-Conference Second Team, All-Defensive Team and All-Freshman Team honors. She averaged 14.1 points (eighth in C-USA), 2.6 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals. She followed it in 2023-24, playing in 17 games and posting 17.2 points, 2.3 assists, 5 rebounds and 2.4 steals. In 15 of those 17 appearances, she scored double digits, with a career-high 30 points against Eastern Carolina. Defensively, the Hoover, Ala. native also had a steal in all but one game, multiple in 12, 3-plus in eight and a season-high of five against Chicago State.
"Aniya will certainly be a top talent in the Sun Belt Conference this season," Rigby said. "I'm so happy she is being recognized by being voted to the Preseason All-Conference team.
Preseason Player of the Year
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State [4th | G | Sachse, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Tessa Grady, Coastal Carolina [R-Jr. | F | Dublin, Ohio]
Jordan Marshall, Louisiana Tech [3rd | F | Little Rock, Ark.]
Daisia Mitchell, App State [Sr. | G | Riverside, Calif.]
Bree Robinson, James Madison [4th | G | Mississauga, Ontario]
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State [4th | G | Sachse, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Imani Daniel, Louisiana [So. | F | Gramercy, La.]
Aniya Hubbard, Troy [5th | G | Hoover, Ala.]
Olivia Olson, Marshall [So. | G | New Smyrna Beach, Fla.]
Zakiya Stephenson, James Madison [4th | G | Virginia Beach, Va.]
Joi Williams, App State [Sr. | G | Leesburg, Va.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Kayla Cleaveland, Georgia Southern [2nd | F | Woodstock, Ga.]
Grace McDonough, James Madison [2nd | F | Harleysville, Pa.]
Chrysta Narcisse, Southern Miss [R-Jr. | G | Lafayette, La.]
Riley Stack, Old Dominion [4th | F | Piedmont, S.C.]
Alexia Weaver, Louisiana Tech [4th | G | Louisville, Ky.]
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. James Madison – 189 (11)
2. Troy – 166
3. Arkansas State – 165 (1)
4. Marshall – 151 (1)
5. Louisiana Tech – 148 (1)
6. Old Dominion – 106
T7. Coastal Carolina – 99
T7. Southern Miss – 99
9. App State – 79
10. ULM – 77
11. Georgia Southern – 62
12. South Alabama – 61
13. Louisiana – 42
14. Georgia State – 26
*Parentheses indicate first-place votes
"Sun Belt women's basketball has risen to be one of the nation's top women's basketball conferences, so it is an honor to be chosen second in the preseason poll," head coach Chanda Rigby said. "However, we won't be satisfied until we earn the No. 1 spot."
The Trojans return three players in Saniya Jackson, Detavia Salter and Shakirah Edwards from the 2025-26 roster. That team finished second in the regular-season standings and fell to James Madison in the SBC title game. Troy posted 25 wins to tie for the most in program history en route to its first-ever WBIT bid. As a unit, the Trojans also led the nation in rebounds for the ninth straight season, tying UConn as the only two teams in NCAA history to lead a statistical category for that stretch.
To complete the 13-woman roster, Troy revamped its roster with five freshmen: Tiauna King, Maliyah Meeks, Kimora Hughes, Jamonica Chambers, and Hannah Smith. Rigby also signed five transfers in Hubbard, Aniya Finger, Tayla Barros, Riana Callihan and Taliah Martin.
Hubbard came to Troy after a two-year stint at Florida Atlantic, where she earned the 2022-23 C-USA Freshman of the Year, All-Conference Second Team, All-Defensive Team and All-Freshman Team honors. She averaged 14.1 points (eighth in C-USA), 2.6 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals. She followed it in 2023-24, playing in 17 games and posting 17.2 points, 2.3 assists, 5 rebounds and 2.4 steals. In 15 of those 17 appearances, she scored double digits, with a career-high 30 points against Eastern Carolina. Defensively, the Hoover, Ala. native also had a steal in all but one game, multiple in 12, 3-plus in eight and a season-high of five against Chicago State.
"Aniya will certainly be a top talent in the Sun Belt Conference this season," Rigby said. "I'm so happy she is being recognized by being voted to the Preseason All-Conference team.
Preseason Player of the Year
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State [4th | G | Sachse, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Tessa Grady, Coastal Carolina [R-Jr. | F | Dublin, Ohio]
Jordan Marshall, Louisiana Tech [3rd | F | Little Rock, Ark.]
Daisia Mitchell, App State [Sr. | G | Riverside, Calif.]
Bree Robinson, James Madison [4th | G | Mississauga, Ontario]
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State [4th | G | Sachse, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Imani Daniel, Louisiana [So. | F | Gramercy, La.]
Aniya Hubbard, Troy [5th | G | Hoover, Ala.]
Olivia Olson, Marshall [So. | G | New Smyrna Beach, Fla.]
Zakiya Stephenson, James Madison [4th | G | Virginia Beach, Va.]
Joi Williams, App State [Sr. | G | Leesburg, Va.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Kayla Cleaveland, Georgia Southern [2nd | F | Woodstock, Ga.]
Grace McDonough, James Madison [2nd | F | Harleysville, Pa.]
Chrysta Narcisse, Southern Miss [R-Jr. | G | Lafayette, La.]
Riley Stack, Old Dominion [4th | F | Piedmont, S.C.]
Alexia Weaver, Louisiana Tech [4th | G | Louisville, Ky.]
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. James Madison – 189 (11)
2. Troy – 166
3. Arkansas State – 165 (1)
4. Marshall – 151 (1)
5. Louisiana Tech – 148 (1)
6. Old Dominion – 106
T7. Coastal Carolina – 99
T7. Southern Miss – 99
9. App State – 79
10. ULM – 77
11. Georgia Southern – 62
12. South Alabama – 61
13. Louisiana – 42
14. Georgia State – 26
*Parentheses indicate first-place votes
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